ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his concerns about the spread of the second wave of coronavirus in cities as air pollution reaches its highest level, which increases during October and November with lower temperatures.

While addressing the Clean Green Index Award ceremony in Islamabad, he said that the accumulation of pollution in the atmosphere during the winter season leads to the spread of diseases in general.

"I fear there might be another spike of coronavirus in cities where the rate of pollution increases in October and November," the Pakistani premier said.

He urged his countrymen to follow preventive measures against the coronavirus and referred to the observation of the World Health Organisation that Pakistan managed to limit the spread of the coronavirus and at the same time it was able to save its economy.

Fears of a second wave have surfaced after health officials warned of cases rising in Punjab province, especially Lahore, while there was also an increase in Karachi's COVID-19 positivity rate.

The prime minister attributed the high level of pollution in the country to the decrease in agricultural areas in cities, water pollution, and the scattering of garbage in the streets. He said that the future of Pakistan depends first on focusing on agriculture and reforestation by planting 10 billion trees and secondly cleaning cities and generating electricity from solid waste. — Agencies